How to Bake Salmon in Foil! – a photo tutorial for an the easiest foil salmon recipe requiring only a few basic ingredients and hardly any prep.
Are you new to baking salmon and/or are looking for a quick and easy method to get dinner on the table pronto?
Well, you have come to the right place, because this little tutorial on how to bake salmon in foil couldn’t be any simpler!
One of the easiest ways to cook salmon is to bake it in foil. This process is low-fuss, generates minimal cleanup, and results in goof-proof tasty salmon each and every time.
Let’s get after it!
Ingredients for Salmon Baked in Foil:
Salmon: The main event! Choose fresh salmon from the seafood counter at your grocery store, or thaw salmon that was previously frozen until it is completely thawed. You can use any type of salmon (King, coho, sockeye, you name it), or even use a different fish (halibut is amazing too!)
Avocado Oil: Oil helps the salmon cook evenly, avoids any sticking to the foil, and also adds flavor to the fish. If you don’t cook with avocado oil, you can use melted butter, coconut oil, and/or olive oil.
Spices: Bringing flavor to the meal, use your favorite spices, dried herbs, or seasoning blends for the salmon. I always go with paprika and dill, but you can also use ground cumin, turmeric, oregano, thyme, chili powder, Cajun seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, etc.
Sea Salt: Sea salt helps keep the salmon nice and tender and also brings out the flavor in both the fish and the other ingredients. Use whatever amount you feel comfortable with! You can always add more just before eating the salmon, so err on the light side.
Garlic: A few cloves of fresh garlic add abundant flavor to this meal! If you eat a low-FODMAP diet (or don’t tolerate garlic well), you can easily skip it.
Lemon: Adding citrusy spunk, lemon brings some nice acidity to the meal. Slice it thin so that the salmon still cooks evenly during the baking process! If you slice it too thick, the parts of the fish that sit right underneath the slice will still be raw after baking.
Any of the ingredients above can be omitted. For instance, if you aren’t a fan of garlic, lemon, or one of the spices, simply leave it out! The flavor of the fish is entirely up to you.
Now that we’re experts, let’s roast salmon!
How to Bake Salmon in Foil:
Bring your salmon and lemon out of the refrigerator about 15 minutes before cooking and let it come to room temperature. This helps ensure the salmon cooks evenly throughout the baking process.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place a long sheet of foil on a baking sheet and lightly coat the center with avocado oil (to prevent salmon skin from sticking to the foil. Place salmon fillet in the center of the foil.
Drizzle salmon with avocado oil and use your fingers (or a silicon brush) to coat the flesh.
Sprinkle with paprika, dried dill, sea salt, and any other spices or herbs you like. Sprinkle with garlic.
Lay thin slices of lemon on top of the salmon.
Fold the foil over the salmon, creating a packet. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily and is cooked through.
Remove from oven and open the foil. Use a spatula to serve alongside your favorite side dishes.
I love eating salmon with steamed brown rice and sautéed or roasted vegetables. My Stir Fry Vegetables Recipe and my Crowd-Pleasing Roasted Vegetables are my favorite!
More Healthy Salmon Recipes:
- Pineapple Ginger Glazed Baked Salmon
- My Go-To Crispy Salmon Recipe
- Skillet Salmon with Lemon Caper Dill Sauce
- Mediterranean Salmon in Parchment Paper
- Pesto Salmon in Parchment Paper
- Crispy Paprika Salmon Bowls with Ginger Vegetables and Rice
- Crispy Honey-Glazed Salmon
Bake it up!
How to Bake Salmon in Foil
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon fillet
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
- 1/2 tsp ground paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- sea salt to taste
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 lemon thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Place a long sheet of foil on a baking sheet and lightly coat the center with avocado oil (to prevent salmon skin from sticking to the foil. Place salmon fillet in the center of the foil. Coat the salmon flesh with avocado oil.
- Sprinkle with paprika, dried dill, sea salt, and any other spices or herbs you like. Sprinkle with garlic. Lay the thin lemon slices over the fish.
- Fold the foil over the salmon, creating a packet. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily and is cooked through.
- Remove from oven and open the foil. Use a spatula to serve alongside your favorite side dishes.
Nutrition
Will this work with parchment paper, instead of foil?
Hi Cathy,
Yes, absolutely! In fact, if you want a more in-depth tutorial on cooking salmon in parchment paper, you can check out my recipe for Mediterranean Salmon in Parchment Paper 🙂 Hope you enjoy!